Srinagar, Oct 5: The All India Medical Students Association (AIMSA) has urged the Jammu and Kashmir Government to urgently revise and bring parity in stipends for MD/MS and DNB residents, senior residents and MBBS/BDS interns across the Union Territory.
In a letter addressed to Health and Medical Education Minister Sakina Itoo on October 5, AIMSA State President Dr Mohammad Momin Khan sought the government’s intervention in what the association described as a long-pending issue concerning stipend revision and disparities among medical institutions in J&K.
AIMSA said postgraduate residents work under demanding conditions involving significant clinical responsibilities and round-the-clock patient care, while stipend disparities between institutions and comparatively lower remuneration than in several other states remain a concern.
The association has sought revision of stipends for MD/MS and DNB residents in line with prevailing rates in other states and Union Territories, along with uniform stipend rates across government medical colleges and other government healthcare institutions in J&K.
It has also demanded appropriate revision and parity for senior residents, besides a written government order specifying a clear implementation timeline for the proposed changes.
Highlighting the concerns of MBBS and BDS interns, AIMSA said interns had earlier been informed that their demand for stipend enhancement would be resolved within approximately a month.
According to the association, the interns have now stated that if their demand is not fulfilled within the assured timeline, they will begin an indefinite hunger strike from October 10.
AIMSA appealed to the government to intervene before the situation escalates, saying that any protest by resident doctors or interns would be peaceful and democratic and undertaken only as a last resort.
“Fair and timely stipends are a matter of dignity, recognition and justice for the medical workforce serving the people of J&K,” the association said, urging the government to resolve the issue through a written order and a defined implementation timeline.
Dr Khan expressed hope that the government would address the concerns and honour its commitments without further escalation.
